Tail clamp



R. C. PAULY VJune 24, 1930.

TAIL CLAMP Filed May 14. 1928 Patented June 24, 1930- UNITED ROBERT C. I'AULY, OF CINCINNAT', OHIO, ASSIGNOR T THE AMERICAN LAUNDBY MACHINEBY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO 'ra/ IL cLamr Application filed May 14,

This invention relates to ironing machines and particularly to tail clamping mechanism therefor.

In the ironing or finishing of various articles in the laundry, such` as shirts, it is important to hold the tail to the shirts tightly after thebosom has been stretched in the proper position in which it is to be ironed or pressed. Some of the devices of this sort are in the form of a flexible band, usually of metal, drawn across the bosom and held under tension by a suitable manipulating means, but little attention has been paid to the arrangement of these devices so that they do not get'in the way of the operator and so that they do not become out of place, so to speak, requiring the attention of the operative picking them up from the fioor and Work table of the maehine. w

In view of the foregoing, the present invention relates to a tail clamping mechanism of the band type so mounted and controlled that it is always effective for clam ing the shirt in clamplngv position and rea y for use when in non-clamping position and is prevented from being moved to an inconvenient or inaccessible place., The invention also relates to mechanism for applying the tensioning means to the clamping band so that it 'has its maximum clamping efl'ort ,when in clamping position but is reduced in tension when in the inoperative or thrown back position. V

Other details ofthe invention will be brought out 4in the following description,

drawings and claims. a

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a press provided with the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of a portion of the board with the clamping deviceapplied thereto; Fig. 3 is a similar view taken from the rear of the machine; and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the connection of the band to the front Operating lever.

, In the embodiment shown in the drawings, 1 represents the main frame' adapted to'supportv a Work board 2 and a'stationary ironing bed 3 which, as shown, is for re- 9 and 16 is a U-shaped lever 20, shown in 1928.1 serial Na. '277,5'1a.

ceiving a shirt and is provided at the neckband end with a suitable neckband support generally indicated at 4. Cooperating with this bed is a suitable heated head 5 substantially conforming to and co-extensive with thel bed and provided with the usual neckbandrecess 6.

The tail clamping mechanism compri'ses a pair of spaced braokets 7 and 8 extending down from the underside of the tail end of the ironing bed 3. The front bracket 8 Dreceives a shaft 9 provided with a handle lever 10 which, when the clamp is applied, extends along 'the front edge of the' board toward the neckbandsend. It hasna suitable handle-portion 11 and beyond this a projection 12 provided with an opening for receiving the threaded shank 12aL of an eye 13. A suitable nut 14, engaging the shank 12a, holds 'the eye in any adjusted position. 71 The end of the sha may be peened over at 15 for preventin its removal. 'In like manner the bracket 7 'is provided with a shaft 16 carrying a lever 17 similar to the lever 10 and in like manner provided with an eye similar to the eye l13. These `two ,eyes 13. ar'e suitably pinned to the front and rear clevises 18 carrying a clamping Strap 19 preferably of thin spring metal which extends 'across the board and is adapted to be brought down in clamping position across the board by suitable mechahism to be described. s

Secured to the inner ends of the two shafts side elevation in Figs. 2 and 3 and in per.- spective and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. VVhen the clamp is applied this U-shaped lever extends upward, as shown in Fig. 1,-and it is adapted to receive the tensioning means which is in the form of a spring 21 secured x to the lever, as 'shown in Fig. 2,' and extends toward the neckband end of the board where it is secured by an adjustable`connection 22' to a bracketr23 secured'to the underside of the bed by any suitable means such as the stud and nut arrangement indicated at 24. The arrangement of the parts thus far described is such that when the clamp is swung toward operative position, the levers i and 17 extend toward the neckband end right or clockwise.

'operative position.

of the board and the U-shaped lever 20 extends normally to the axis of the spring 21 so that in this positionrit'exerts its maximum tension effect upon this U-shaped lever and therefore upon the entire clamp, thus holding the article in firmly'clamped position upon the board; When it is. swung in clockwise direction, as shown in Figs. 2'and 3, so that levers 10 and 17 are substantially horizontal as 'shown 'in dotted lines in Fig.

'2, 'the U-shaped lever member 20 projects downward and the spring is carried across and below the axis of the shaft Sections 19,

,as shown, thereby exerting a tendency' to further turn the clamping device to the Undue motion in this direction, however, is prevented by a stop arni 25 forming a part of the lever 17 and adapted, .When the clamp is 'thrown to the rear as shown in Fig. 2, to engage a rubber or other yielding bumper 26 carried by a cup 27 lsecured .to the ironing bed. In this retracted position of the clamp the tension spring 21 pulls the clamp clockwise in a direction just beyond the axis of the shafts 9 and 16 so that the clamp is locked out of i Since the pull vof the tension device is almost across the center of t'he shafts.9 and 16, relatively little operator eii'ort is required to move the clamp to and from lockedposition. In other words, when the operator applies the clamp he does i so against a minimum of spring tension effect when movingit from the off position and moves it into a position where the ten sion spring exertsl its maximum efi'ort in clamping .the work upon the bed.

In operation, the user dresses the shirtupon the board with the neckband held in the neckband clamp and dresses the front portions upon the board in the desired ar-.

rangement. VHe then swings the clamp from the dotted line position, shown in Fig. g 2, tov the full line positionimthat figure and ,the work will be firmly clamped'upon the board. Theroafter, he may stretch the bosoin portions under the clamp 'to remove/any wrinkles or the like. i

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the' class described an ironing board, a tail clamp frame including side members and a shaft member, bearings for said shaft member arranged transverse to, beneath and near the tail end of said 2. A machine of the class described in claim 1 wherein the tail clamp frame comprises a pair'of spaced aligned shafts with side frame arms extending out beyond and at the sides of the board, and a lever connecting the inner ends of said shafts and connected to said tension means.

3. A machine of the class described in claim 1 wherein the tail clamp frame comsprises a pair of spaced aligned shafts with side frame arms extending out beyond and a't the sides of the board, and a U-shaped lever connecting the inner endsl of said shafts and connected to said tension meansa a. A Pmachine of4 the class described inl claim 1 wherein the tail clamp frame com-l prises a pair of spaced aligned shafts with side frame arms extending out beyond and at the sides -of'the board, a lever 'connecting the inner ends of said shafts and connected to said tension means, and a stop for arresting the frame in its od position.

5. A machine of the class described 'in claim 1 wherein the tail clamp frame comprises a pair of spaced aligned shafts with side frame larms extending out beyond and t'at the sides of the board, and a U-shape'd signature.

RBERT C. PAULY. w

board to permit the free end of the frame 'to swing to and from positions upon the surface, and beyond the end of the board, a yieldin strap carried by the free ends of the side rame members and adapted to extend across the board, means for creating a tension upon said frame in either of its two extreme positions, and means for manipulating said clamp to a position over the board and to a position beyond the same.

lOO 

